Nigerians follow US lead in suing tobacco companies for health costs

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British American Tobacco is being sued by Nigeria’s two largest states, which are hoping to recover the costs incurred in treating smoking-related diseases in cases inspired by American state lawsuits of the 1990s, which led to a multi-billion-dollar settlement by the tobacco industry.

Kano and Lagos, joined by another state, Gombe, and a nonprofit organisation, have also accused BAT of targeting young and underage smokers by sponsoring events such as pop concerts and of promoting the sale of individual cigarettes, which they claim reduces the effectiveness of mandatory health warnings.